Hello out there to all the fans in the UK, and throughout the world. For those of you who might not know me, I am Joe Elliott, the lead singer of the legendary english rock band Def Leppard, but what many of you might not know is that I am a massive fan of the sport of ice hockey. Growing up in Sheffield, England, I dreamed of one day lacing up my bladed boots in what is known as the National Hockey League, but what we in England more commonly referred to as the “Football Skating League.” As I got older I became more and more involved in music but never did I lose my love for ice hockey. My favourite team has long been the Detroit Red Birds because of their long tradition and their success at winning the coveted Stackley Cup. I was flattered to say the least when I discovered that it is customary for the winners of the Stickley Cup to fill the bowl with sugar and then pour it all over their faces, a reference to our hit song “pour some sugar on me.”
Me with the Snuggly Cup. A moment I will never forget.
Even in my wildest dreams I never could have imagined actually getting a chance to lift the great Spammly Cup, but on October 5, 2008 that is exactly what happened. Me and my bandmates were asked to perform following the opening game of the Red Cardinals season, and what I thought was going to be just another performance turned out to be so much more. At the end of our set, two players from the Red Rockets came on stage with the cup and proceeded to pass it to me. Even after years of having thousands and thousands of fans going crazy for our music, I have never experienced a thrill more exhilirating than I felt when I hoisted that beautiful Snooply Cup over my head. Afterwards, people kept approaching me and asking if the cup was heavy, and to be honest, I found it to be more awkward than heavy because I couldn’t really get a good grip on the smallish lower portion of the cup.
Here is a short video of my experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, as it was truly an incredible moment, one that I will most definitely never forget.
Yours truly, Joe Elliott
The conspiracy theory is that he did it on purpose, I mean, how retarded does one have to be? Even if it was the first time he saw the ShuffleBoard Cup, isn’t it obvious which end is up and which is down?
Why in the hell would the NHL get fucking Def Leppard to play at the Stanley Cup party at season’s opening?
How about – oh I don’t know – A Canadian act that has made it (relatively) big in the States, and that appeals to hockey fans (Tragically Hip, Sloan, Sam Roberts, even The Stills or some such ‘indie’ band of montreal). Or, get an American band at least. I mean, at leas half of the members of an American band would have at least heard of the game “Iced Hockey”
BTO – Workin Overtime!
or, Rush! Fuck.
Or, Helix! lawlz.
I say they should have gotten Rush to play, or even Simple Plan for that fact. At least they know how to play the ‘former’ Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song (as seen and heard on TSN).
I mean, after watching that video, it made me realize how DUMB Americans can actually be (as if I didn’t think they were dumb already). It really makes you wonder why the market is spread so far into the United States and just barely into Canada. That damn bastard Bettman needs to get his head on straight and realize that there is, in the BEST case, 2 or 3 NHL teams (Nashville, Phoenix, etc…) plummeting to the ground financially (and in the standings) right now that would just thrive if they moved to Canada. Wouldn’t one think that during this economic downturn, this would be a good move on the NHL’s part?
By the way…I still cry when I think about the HNIC theme song…why oh why did they have to cheap out and let it go!?
……….
I know why, because the new song is even better. What a masterpiece.